The Fraudulent Duchess | ONC 2022

Chapter Four | The Dance Lesson

     The following morning, I headed to Lady Gwendoline's room to help her get ready for the day. I was not looking forward to her next stage of training. After the Duke left the previous day, we spent the rest of the day practising the piano until I could play the beginning without her assistance. The only time we took a break was for afternoon tea, during which she taught me how to address all the various members of the upper class. Specifically, as a member of the upper class. By the end of the day, Lady Gwendoline began to address me as 'Duchess,' which I could not get used to, much to her frustration.
    "Good morning, Duchess," Lady Gwendoline greeted me when I entered her room.
    "Good morning," I nodded.
    "Here, put this on," she instructed, tossing a dress to me.
    I unfolded the dress and held it up at arm's length. It was an old dress that used to belong to Lady Gwendoline. Although she was a few years younger than me, she had quite a few inches on me, so it looked as if it might fit me.
    "Why do I need to wear this?" I inquired. Normally a lady's maid wore practical dresses that one did not mind getting dirty.
    "We are teaching you how to dance," Lady Gwendoline informed.
    "We?"
    "Ernest agreed to help. After all, you need a dance partner, and someone needs to play the piano."
    "I am afraid that I am not much of a dancer."
    "Well, we will certainly have to change that, won't we? Learning how to dance properly might be the most important skill I shall teach you. After all, Cecil is bound to take you to some party of sorts where you two will need to dance together."
    "In front of people?"
    "If it were just the two of you, you would not need to dance. Now, help me get ready, then change into that dress. Ernest is waiting for us."
    "Don't you need to have breakfast first?"
    Lady Gwendoline pointed to her dressing table where a shiny red apple sat next to the mirror. I did my best to keep a straight face, without sighing or rolling my eyes. I was not eager to learn how to dance, but I knew there was no getting out of it. Lady Gwendoline took a seat in front of her mirror, taking a bite of the apple as I began to work on her hair.
    I helped Lady Gwendoline into a day dress and then put on my borrowed ballgown (with her assistance). Afterwards, the two of us headed downstairs to the ballroom.

    Lord Winton rarely held balls at the estate, but his parents used to love hosting events in their ballroom. The room had high ceilings, hardwood flooring, and intricate carvings on the cream-coloured walls. There were tall glass double doors that opened onto a small balcony overlooking the gardens. In the corner of the ballroom was a grand piano.
    "You are late," Lord Winton scolded, pulling me out of my thoughts of admiring the room.
    "Sorry," Lady Gwendoline replied, although both her brother and I knew that she did not mean the apology. ("If you apologize to my brother, then he shuts up much faster than if you argue with him," she once told me.)
    Lady Gwendoline took a seat on the piano bench and placed her hands over the keys, ready to start my dancing lessons.
    "Are you ready to begin, Susan?" Lord Winton inquired.
    "I suppose that I am," I replied.
    "Excellent."
    Lord Winton sunk into a bow, then held out his left hand, "Take my hand with your right hand, and place your other hand on my shoulder."
    I hesitated. I knew that the point of all the training was to get used to being a lady of society. As I was still a servant, it seemed scandalous for me to stand this close to a nobleman, and the idea of making contact with one was horrifying.
    "Come on, Susan!" Lady Gwendoline called from the piano, her impatience showing.
    I took a deep breath, then took Lord Winton's hand, and gingerly placed my other hand on his shoulder.
    "Now, all you have to do is follow my lead," Lord Winton instructed. "When I step forwards, you step back. It is quite simple. Are you ready?"
    "Yes," I nodded, not exactly ready, but eager for the lesson to end.
    "Gwen, No. 15 in A major."
    Beautiful music began to fill the ballroom. Lord Winton nodded at me then began to waltz. I attempted to follow his lead, although the notion of following one's lead is quite different from the execution. I ended up stepping on his toes every single time.
    "I apologize!" I exclaimed once Lord Winton called for his sister to stop.
    "It is all right," he assured. "I suppose it is not easy to start following someone's lead without better instruction. Gwen, come here. We can demonstrate."
    "But what about the music?" Lady Gwendoline replied.
    "We can do without it for a demonstration. Come on, I have accounts to go over."
    Lady Gwendoline elegantly rose from the piano bench and walked over to her brother. I stepped aside and she took my spot. Lord Winton kept count aloud, and unlike me, Lady Gwendoline was able to follow her brother's lead perfectly. Apart from the fact that she scowled the whole time. It seemed that being that close to her older brother was just as uncomfortable for her as it was for me. I kept my eyes glued to their feet, making mental notes on how one was supposed to dance. While I did not expect to become a skilled dancer, it began to make sense to me.
    "Your turn," Lady Gwendoline said after a while, eagerly pulling away from Lord Winton and taking her spot back on the piano bench.
    I took Lord Winton's extended hand with less hesitancy and placed my hand on his shoulder. Lady Gwendoline began to play again, and we began to dance. While I did step on Lord Winton's toes, I managed to follow his lead for most of the dance. A passerby would declare what we were dancing. Although, that same passerby would also feel sorry for Lord Winton for having to dance with me.
    "Do not worry, Susan, you are getting the hang of it," Lady Gwendoline assured after practising for a couple of hours. It was the first time that I got through the waltz without treading on Lord Winton's toes. Although I failed to glide along the ballroom floor as ladies were supposed to do.
    "I will look like a fool if I ever have to dance in public," I announced.
    "Nonsense. Similarly to your piano playing, all you need is more practice. Ernest will help you every day until you have to go meet Cecil's great-aunt."
    "Oh, I will, will I?" Lord Winton exclaimed, who seemed oblivious to his sister's plan.
    Lady Gwendoline rolled her eyes and turned back to me, ignoring her brother (as she often did). "Susan, while we are here, let us practice the piano once more."

    I began to walk toward the grand piano, finding it much more intimidating than the smaller one in Lady Gwendoline's sitting room. I preferred to practice on that one. The piano was less daunting and in a more secluded area of the house. Any of the servants could pass by the ballroom and hear me make a fool of myself.
    "Good afternoon, everyone!" Came the Duke of Bedford's voice as he strolled in, saving me from the piano.
    "Hello, Cecil," Lady Gwendoline nodded. "You seem sober for a change."
    "Gwen!" Lord Winton scolded, narrowing his eyes at her, though she seemed unfazed by it.
    "Anyway, I am glad that you are here and not intoxicated. We were in the middle of teaching Susan to dance. And since you are to be her dance partner in public, this is the perfect time to practice."
    "Splendid idea," Lord Winton nodded, looking grateful that he no longer had to dance with me. He moved off to the side of the ballroom and took a seat on one of the window ledges.
    The Duke of Bedford crossed the floor towards me. Without a word, he bowed and offered me his hand. I was no longer a stranger to this gesture, and I was eager to avoid yet another lecture from Lady Gwendoline. I took the Duke's hand and rested my other hand gently on his shoulder. He gave me a smile that reassured me as Lady Gwendoline began to play the waltz once more.
    I was not sure if it was due to my hours of practice, or perhaps the Duke attended more balls than Lord Winton. But it was clear that the two of us were indeed waltzing, and a passerby might have noticed that we knew what we were doing. As we danced, the Duke continued to give me reassuring smiles, which gave me the confidence to continue, and I was able to ignore the fact that I was a servant attempting to deceive society into thinking that I was a well-bred woman. For the length of the song, I only heard the music and concentrated on following the Duke of Bedford's lead.

    "Splendid!" Lady Gwendoline smiled once the song ended, giving her only true compliment of the day (perhaps even of the week; she was hard to please).
    "Yes, well done, Susan," the Duke nodded. 'Gwen and Ernest seem to be excellent instructors."
    "It was more Gwen than me," Lord Winton shrugged, then added with a smirk, "I just do as I am told."
    Lady Gwendoline beamed at that comment; everyone knew that traditionally it would be the man of the household ordering everyone else around. However, Lord Winton cared for and respected (and at times feared) his sister. He knew better than to try to get her to do anything against her will.
    "Well, you are a good lead," I told the Duke, resisting the urge to address him formally.
    "Why, thank you, Susan," he smiled, sinking into an extravagant bow.
    "All right, I need a break," Lady Gwendoline announced, closing the piano's lid and getting to her feet. "Ernest, can we go for a ride?"
    "Only if you ride side-saddle and promise not to start any races," Lord Winton instructed.
    "Please, Ernest. You cannot expect me to do both. And you will be there to supervise."
    "Very well, you can ride normally, but no racing."
    "Thank you."
    "Cecil, would you like to join us?"
    "Sure," the Duke nodded. "Your grounds are quite lovely."
    Lady Gwendoline and Lord Winton left the ballroom to get changed for their ride. I was about to follow, but the Duke called out to me.
    "Susan, are you all right?" The Duke inquired. "Are your lessons going well?"
    "Yes, they are. Thank you," I nodded. "Lady Gwendoline is a good instructor."
    "Good, I am glad. And once again, I appreciate everything that you are doing for me."
    "You are welcome."
    The Duke of Bedford smiled, and I could not help but smile back; he had a rather contagious grin.
    "Well...I am sorry to cut our conversation short, but I best go help Lady Gwendoline prepare for her ride," I informed.
    "Oh, of course," the Duke replied. "I suppose you are still her lady's maid for a few more days. Well, have a nice day, Susan. I will most likely call on you again tomorrow."
    "Thank you. Enjoy your ride."
    I nodded to the Duke of Bedford, and he gave me a slight bow in return.
    I headed to the hidden door in the ballroom, disguised as one of the wall panels. I gave it a slight push, revealing the servants' stairwell then walked up towards Lady Gwendoline's floor.